I Felt Like Superman-Maracaibo Guayaquil Week Eighty Nine

I have no idea where to even start. Like it has been so crazy and weird. So many emotions and experiences that I cannot even put it into words. It is hard for me to write this email right now. But here goes nothing....

Monday-Friday

Everything was normal. Besides the fact that I got hit by a car. Not run over but it definitely hit me. It was actually super funny and I got a good laugh out of it after the fact. I was crossing the street and the light turned green and they like hit me as there way of telling me to move out of the way. Nothing happened to me and I am completely fine but I can officially say the the drivers of Guayaquil are worse than those of Springfield. Also my companion had changes of Friday morning and I haven't had a companion since that moment so I have been working with the Zone Leaders.

We are Alive!!

Saturday

This day was completely normal. We had the zone meeting in the morning. Part of the day we spent preparing for the baptism that I was going to have. We went and visited everyone that we need to visit and we headed to the church for the baptism. We showed up to the church and starting filling the baptismal font because the water had lowered a little. We got everything ready and at the hour that we are going to start the baptism in comes running a young man yelling "Earthquake". Everyone starts panicking but I still didn't feel anything. We got outside and it was like a wave hit me. It about sat me down or knock me over. IT was super powerful. People fell to the ground and the earthquake seemed to last maybe 2 minutes. It was so intense. You could hear things falling. The chapel was like about to fall. The lights were blowing up and everyone was screaming and crying. I was just thinking about what I was going to eat for dinner (mom note: some things just don't change.). But the city was dark, like pitch dark. We rushed to visit a couple of people and headed to the house. The baptism was no longer a priority but rather the safety of all the members and the families of them. We made some quick decisions that were great and checked on lots of members and investigators and missionaries in a short period of time. ALL IN DARKNESS. Kind of dumb, but I felt like Superman. The city didn't have cell phone coverage nor anything. We had to look them done. Like Sherlock Holmes or something like that. 

Sunday

The power came back to the city Sunday morning. It  hadn't set in yet what had happened. There was no church and actually we spent the whole day in the house. We got the report and the numbers and it really surprised me the damage that had been done. They said that a bridge had fallen and some house and buildings had fallen here in Guayaquil. I know more damage happened there in Quito and Esmeraldas. We are praying for them and all those who are there. It is sad to hear everything that has happened. The members and the church have acted fast and things seem to be improving.

What a crazy and remarkable experience it was. Crazy to have experience it. Something that definitely went in the journal and I will never forget it.

Thanks for all the love and support, All is good here. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

It Makes The Rejection Hurt A Little Less- Maracaibo Guayaquil Week Eighty Eight

Happy Birthday to Kennedy this week as she will be 15 years old this Sunday. I think. 

Miracles

With my companion we have been working extra hard to be able to find those who are ready and willing to accept the gospel in their lives. It always talks about the chosen people in the scriptures and my companion and I are determined to find them. We have had many incredible experiences this week and we worked with the investigators that we had and found new ones. The biggest blessing of the week was Jordan. He is a young teenager that earlier in his life fought cancer and won. Since then he has realized the importance of life and has been trying to fulfill his purpose here on the earth. As we began to teach him me and my companion knew that he was a special child of our heavenly father. One of his firsts questions was, "What do I need to do to be a missionary like you guys?" He actually every knew the answer but just verified with us. He knows lots about the church already and has a burning testimony that he is willing to share with everyone. In just one week. It has been such an incredible experience to work with him and help him on this journey. He came with his sister to church on Sunday and she also enjoyed. Things are great with him and it has been a true blessing to be able to met him and help him. These are the experiences that make the reject hurt a little less, the sun not burn as much, and your feet not hurt that much anymore. It is for reasons like this that I left my family and friends an everything in the house. It makes the 2 years of work worth it.

Looking fancy in their suits

Enjoying a delicious meal

A yummy cake

A darling family 

Elder Shanklin and Elder Montalvo

The great thing is...he isn't the only one. We are working with another couple that have plans to get married and then baptized that very day. They are excellent people and the have testimonies of the church and desire to be sealed in the temple in a year from now. 

The Lord has blessed us a lot and we are in debt to him for the blessings his has given us. Sometimes I dont feel worthy of the blessings and things that he gives me. For that I know that he loves me and watches over me. 

Thanks for all the love and support! Have a great week!

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Noche Blanca-Maracaibo Guayaquil Week Eighty Seven

This week was a very stressful week, but at the end had a super satisfying results. 

Conference

Every conference weekend I always learn so much and find ways to improve myself as a missionary and as a person. The quote or saying that I liked the most from this conference was "He was the best leader, because he was the follower most faithful" or something like that. I am not sure I was watching it in Spanish. The talks were great and our investigadors really enjoyed listening to prophets and apotoles in the actuality. They felt the spirit and learned many new things. 

Baptisms

After the second session on Sunday we were able to have 2 baptisms, but in total 13 people got baptized that night. What a great experience was to be a part of that night. Nayeli Chillambo and Edder Saltos got baptized that night. Me and my companion both dressed in white to be able to baptize. I will send pictures so that eveyone can enjoy it. IT was a great spiritual experience for everyone and everyone had a great time and felt the spirit. 

13 Baptisms

Noche Blanca-"White Night"

The Elders and their new converts

Love the smiles

Investigators.

We have many investigators here in Maracaibo and we need for prayer on behalf of them. 

-Javier y Diana. They are a couple that we have been teaching and they have plans to get married and then get baptized in the following weeks. The marriage is set for the 21 of April and the baptism that very day. 

-Armando is a friend of a recent convert. Before he listened to the missionaries but they just stopped passing by. He is super excited and has come to know that the church is true. His baptism is for the 16 of this month. 

-Josue has gone to church the last couple week with a family from the ward. He is unsure about a couple things but has the desire to be baptized. We are working with him to put a goal and then he got do it. 

Jordan is a young man that miraculously went to the conference on Sunday. He had cancer about a year ago and he has a friend, who is a member of the church, that has been helping him cope with his problems. His friend sent him to the church that day and he really enjoyed it. He will be getting baptized the 23. 

Bigs things are coming here. We need your prayers and support so that all can become members of the church.

Thanks for all the love and support!

Life is a sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

All Good Things Must Come To An End-Maracaibo Guayaquil Week Eighty Six

This past Thursday I parted from Galapagos having been extremely blessed to have taught those people and help them come unto Christ. Leaving that Island was like leaving my house for the 2nd time. It was hard. I left having learned a valuable life lesson that will stick with me during my entire life. 

New Sector, New Companion

Back to the grind in the beautiful city of Guayaquil. I know that it doesnt even compare to Galapagos on any level but I have grown to love this city and love those that reside here. I returned to the zone I was previously in before heading to Galaps. However, I am just in a different sector. I am in Maracaibo. I am training a new missionary, Elder Montalvo. He is from Colombia and he is an excellent missionary. He will be a way better missionary than I am and will baptize more and just be smarter than me. In no time we will be sending baptismal pictures to the family. Just get your popcorn and wait for it. 

Investigadors

This week we were super blessed to find many new people and then Sunday they went to church as well. The Lord has been helping us a lot lately to be able to find those that are ready and willing to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. The Lord is always willing to help us if we are willing to help him. I have learned to rely on him more than in myself. That if I just trust in him and do what he wants me to do then he will take care of me and make sure I have success. It is a great opportunity to teach a new missionary everything you know. Even though I dont know that much. We are learning together and sometimes I think that he is teaching me more than I am teaching him. He will be a great missionary. 

Well...I didnt have much time in this sector so basically there isnt that much to talk about. Next week we will make sure to take some pictures and send them to everyone!

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

A New Companion-Santa Cruz Guayaquil Week Eighty Five

Sounds like everyone was spiritually enriched in Springfield this past weekend. Wish I could have been there. But on the other hand, you all wish you could be here in Galapagos. 

New Companion

This week Elder Donayre left on Thursday. However, my new companion came on Wednesday so we spent the day in a trio. That was the first time ever in my mission. My new companion is Elder Manning. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah. We were actually in the MTC at the same time so we got to know each other like 18 months ago. He is super awesome and we get along super well. We are working super hard. The cool part about picking up your new companion is that you get to go to a different island and you go in boat. It gives you the chance to see many new animals that are only here from Galapagos. For example for the first time ever we saw the blue-footed booby and we also saw a shark. I will send some pictures so you believe me. It has been an incredible privledge to be here in Galapagos. To get to know more of Gods wildlife and get to know his children his in the islands. They are extremely blessed and it talks about them many times in the scriptures. The promises are great for those that are found in the islands of the sea. It has been a privledge to see those promises in real life.

Blue Footed Booby

Can you see that Shark fin

More of the blue footed Booby

The Work

I would be lying if I told all of you that I am the best missionary in the world and that we are going to baptize a million people here in this island. Lately, based on many factors, the work has been really slow and it has difficult for us. Throughout my entire mission it never has been super difficult for me to find, teach. and baptize. However, recently I have been experiencing things that I have never had to experience before. I am learning and growing at the same time. It has been hard and it IS hard but I feel myself becoming a better missionary and better person. In this week we have big plans to pick up the work here in Galapagos. Pray for us as we start over practically.

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Baptisms on the Beach-Santa Cruz Guayaquil Week Eighty Four

How lucky I am to be here in Galapagos and to see Gods beauty here on this Island.

Baptisms in the Beach

The beaches here in Galapagos are some of the most beautiful in the world. The crystal clear water as the suns rays reflect off of it is a sight that few people get to see. Saturday we had the opportunity to head to La Estacion, a beach the is like 5 minutes from our house. It was awesome to get to see another beach and even better was to baptize there. Joubeth got baptized and it was great to see her finally do it. She is the aunt of some converts and we had always tried to teach her but she was always busy. Until one Sunday she decided to go to Sunday and after 2 weeks she decided to get baptized. At first the mom said no, but after we talked to the mom she agreed to let her get baptized and then the mom even came to the baptism! The only bad part about the baptism is we have to walk up at 430 to get ready and go pass by the house of the baptism and then go to the beach. But it is all worth it!

So beautiful!!

Same picture...No filter.

Look how clear the water is!!

Elder Shanklin

Elder Shanklin and his companion

Joubeth and the Elders

La Estacion

Rancho Fortiz

Here in Galapagos there are members that have a restaurant in the high part of the island. Today they invited us to go up and eat. It is practically like a little day resort. Those are some of the pictures I sent too. The food was great and the service was even better. We stayed for a couple hours just relaxing in the hammocks and enjoying the view. There are so many things to do here in Pday that you run out of time before the day even starts.

The closest he is getting to a pool!

Just chillin!

A little rest for the day!

Learning Moment

This week I had a major learning moment as a was reading Alma. Where it says that the Lords tests his servants faith and patience by giving them trials. I learned to, instead of complain for the trials that I have right now, to rejoice and be happy for this time that my God has given me to learn more and gain more faith. I love the Lord and this work. 

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count 

Elder Shanklin

The Enchanted Island-Santa Cruz Galapagos Week Eighty Three

This week, despite everything that happened during the week ended on a super high note. I think you will all agree with me when you see the pictures and read a little bit more. 

Baptisms

In the last 2 years the missionaries have only recieved permision to go to Tortuga Bay 2 times. This week we made it 3. In order to go to Tortuga Bay you have to talk directly with President and then he will decide if we can go or not. The thing is is that he told us that this would be the last time that the missionaries would go to Tortuga Bay with him as President. How lucky we were to be able to be the last to step on that sand. Patricia with her daughter, Britney were baptized and then Johan also got baptized. We walk up at 430 in the morning Saturday to be able to get everything ready and get to the beach at 630. Like 40 members went with us to the beach and we all had a great time. The walk to get there is about 30 minutes and then it is like walking into heaven. I took like 200 pictures but I will only be able to send like 10, at the most. But you will just have to wait and see until I get back.

This is a beautiful picture

Elder Shanklin baptizing a new member

Elder Shanklin in Tortuga Bay

Another view of Elder Shanklin on Tortuga Bay

The sand says it all

Puntudo

Today we went to the highest point here on the Island. I kid you not that Galapagos is just full of different adventures and you are never bored here. It is like a 1 hour walk to get to the point but when you get there and see the beauty is makes everything worth it. Again, I will send pictures and hopefully you will enjoy the beauty. The pictures dont do it just. You just need to sit on that rock and gaze upon Gods creations to be able to realize and grasp the reality of God and his existence. It was another confirming moment for me. We went up there with a couple of the young men and had a great time. But we all look likes lobsters because we got burned. I probably should have put on sunscreen but the tube here is like 12 bucks. There wasnt money for it.

Miracles. 

Although there are rough times in the mission the Lord never stops working miracles in our lives. We were able to to find a couple people this week and hopefully this week we will be going to the beach again to have another baptism. Pray for the work here and for us as well. This week my companion will be having changes and I will be recieving a new companion here in Galapagos. Pray for us that we will be able to get things going here and work hard to help this island and brach progress. 

Thanks for all the love and support!!

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin